Agriculture: Pig and Poultry Products

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the major differences in the United Kingdom and European Union baselines in chicken and pig welfare standards; what are the reasons for those differences; whether they represent a competitive disadvantage to the United Kingdom; and whether they will take steps to ensure that pork on sale in the United Kingdom is labelled according to its welfare provenance.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Council Directive 2007/43 came into force in 2010 and has provided a harmonised approach to most aspects of meat chicken production across the EU. There is scope within the Directive for Member States to set a maximum stocking density of up to 42kg/r2. The legal maximum stocking density has been set in Great Britain at 39 kg/m2, a decision made on animal welfare grounds. The majority of the UK industry continues to rear meat chickens to Red Tractor standards which set a maximum stocking density of 38 kg/m2. The impact of the Directive on the competitiveness of the broiler industry in Great Britain will be assessed as part of the post implementation review.
	On pigs, the UK unilaterally banned sow stalls in 1999 on welfare grounds, following all-party support. Similar EU rules will mean that the rest of Europe will ban sow stalls by 2013, which will help to provide a more level playing field for UK producers.
	If any Member State were to seek an extension to the 2013 sow stall ban, the UK would strongly oppose it. We recognise any extension would disadvantage UK producers who have invested heavily in converting to alternative systems. We continue to urge the Commission to learn lessons from the 2012 laying hen conventional cage ban, so that our pig industry is protected in 2013.
	There are many routes to educate consumers, one of which could be the use of a label to allow consumers to make informed purchases. However, due to the difficulty in defining animal welfare, the array of labels already on products may not be the most effective route to inform consumers.

Animal Welfare: Transport of Horses

Lord Dear: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the recent report of the European Commission highlighting the welfare problems caused by the long-distance transportation of horses across Europe, what action they intend to take on this issue.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: We will continue to push the EU Commission for a review of the rules on long journey transportation of all animals, including horses. In the interim, we will also be playing a full part in the work which the EU Commission believes will ensure better enforcement of the existing transportation rules, as outlined in the same report.

Animal Welfare: Transport of Horses

Lord Dear: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the disease risk posed to the United Kingdom horse population by the long-distance transportation of low-value unregistered horses; and what measures they will take to protect the United Kingdom equestrian industry from this risk.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Defra's International Disease Monitoring monitors outbreaks of high impact diseases around the world. When Defra becomes aware of a new animal disease outbreak in another country, we carry out an initial rapid risk assessment of the risk of introduction of that disease into the United Kingdom taking into account the level of trade from that region or any possible illegal movements.
	We have recently carried out risk assessments on the introduction of the following equine diseases: Equine Infectious Anaemia, West Nile Virus, Dourine and African Horse Sickness. These concluded that the risk from Equine Infectious Anaemia and Dourine may be greater than negligible and therefore would merit additional risk mitigation measures.
	All these assessments can be found on the Defra website: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/ farmanimal/diseases/monitoring/index.htm
	Post import checks may be carried out on consignments of horses, depending on the country of origin and purpose of the horse (breeding, unregistered, consignments with large numbers etc). These checks are to ensure compliance with health certification and sometimes warrant taking samples for post import tests for diseases such as Equine Infectious Anaemia and Dourine.
	Finally, Defra has a good relationship with the equine industry through the equine Core Group of experts and regularly keeps them up to date with any changes in disease risk and advice to keepers.

Animals: Microchipping

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have considered introducing compulsory microchipping of dogs.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government support voluntary identification of pets-by microchipping, permanent identification and the registering of pets on nationwide databases. Defra Ministers and officials are currently engaged with key stakeholders from wider government, the police and animal welfare organisations concerning the content of possible legislation, including the microchipping of dogs.
	We intend to make an announcement on tackling irresponsible dog ownership early in the New Year.

Aviation: British Midland International

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will intervene to prevent the break-up of British Midland International's assets into runway slots and regional airlines.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take action to encourage bidders which will protect the 527 jobs at British Midland International's headquarters at Castle Donington.

Earl Attlee: Proposals for the sale of BMI are a commercial matter for its owner, Lufthansa.

Environment: Waste Management

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the variation agreed in the project "Emissions from waste management facilities".

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Five variations to contract were agreed during the course of the research project entitled "Emissions from Waste Management Facilities" (WR0608). The details are provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Date Reason for variation Value (£) 
			 14 January 2008 Milestone activities and associated delivery dates adjusted following the initial scoping work. 0 
			 22 August 2008 Further refinements made to the project activity schedule following completion of phase 1, and additional staff time funding added to allow exploration of particulate emissions. 19,000 
			 3 April 2009 Additional budget added and project end date extended to accommodate further gathering, analysis and reporting of data-made available through a stakeholder workshop convened to discuss interim research results. 9,400 
			 17 February 2010 Project end-date extended to allow time for internal and external peer review of the research findings 0 
			 31 January 2011 Project end-date extended and additional staff time funding added to accommodate new research and summary reporting requirements following feedback from the peer review. 5,000

EU Summit

Lord Jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the proposals which the United Kingdom vetoed at the European Summit of 8-9 December, which were not liable to be imposed on the United Kingdom through Qualified Majority Voting.

Lord Howell of Guildford: I refer the noble Lord to the European Council statement of 9 December 2011 which can be accessed on its website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/126658.pdf.

EU: Finance Regulation

Lord Lawson of Blaby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the draft protocol on financial regulation and other matters for which the Prime Minister sought acceptance at the European Council on 8-9 December.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Prime Minister, my right honourable friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) in his post-European Council statement has explained that the safeguards the UK proposed were modest, reasonable and relevant. (http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=PressS&id=704961082.) The Government do not publish informal draft texts proposed during the course of negotiations.

European Court of Human Rights

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 7 December (WA 167-8), when the first item of correspondence from the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe (CoE) was sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the United Kingdom's impending chairmanship of the CoE relating to possible changes to the rules and procedures of the European Court of Human Rights; who is that representative; and why there has been a 139 per cent increase in applications between 2009 and 2010 sent to the United Kingdom from the European Court of Human Rights on which observations on admissibility and merits are sought.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Discussions on reforming the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), including changes to its rules and procedures, have been ongoing for a number of years. The United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe, Mrs Eleanor Fuller, regularly updates government departments in London about developments in those reform discussions. In reporting on the Interlaken Conference in February 2010, which agreed a Declaration setting out an action plan for reform, the Permanent Representative referred to the upcoming UK Chairmanship of the Council of Europe because the Interlaken Declaration set a timetable for action which coincided with the dates of the UK Chairmanship.
	According to the ECHR website 46 applications to the ECHR were communicated to the Government for observations in 2008, 62 in 2009 and 68 in 2010. We are not aware of any particular factors contributing to the increase.

Gaza

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning the supply of medical and other supplies to the St Johns Eye Hospital in Gaza and access by patients to the main hospital in Jerusalem; and what replies they have received.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Officials in our Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raise access issues with Israeli Ministers, senior officials and the Israeli Defence Forces, including the issues of medical supplies to Gaza and physical access relating to Jerusalem, but they have not made representations on these specific cases. We will continue to monitor the situation regarding access issues.

Gendercide

Lord Hussain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to prevent the killing of unborn and new-born female babies abroad, particularly in China and India.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government condemn all instances of sex-selective abortion and infanticide. Our High Commissioner in Delhi and our Ambassador in Beijing will look for suitable opportunities to raise this matter with the Indian and Chinese Governments.

Gendercide

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any differences between their policies on gendercide in the United Kingdom and the policies on gendercide they urge upon countries outside British jurisdiction.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Infanticide is a criminal offence in the UK regardless of the gender of the victim. It is also illegal to abort a foetus based on its gender alone, although the sex of an unborn child might be a legitimate factor in an abortion subject to medical grounds specified in the 1967 Abortion Act. We make no distinction between our condemnation of infanticide and sex-selective abortion in the UK and internationally.

Government Departments: Procurement

Lord Prescott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the (1) date of purchase, (2) amount, (3) supplier and (4) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry of each transaction undertaken by the Department for Transport using the Government Procurement Card in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09, (d) 2009-10, and (e) 2010-11.

Earl Attlee: This Government are committed to transparency and so during October we began to publish information on transactions over £500 for 2011-12 for the Department of Transport on our website and will continue to do so on a monthly basis. This can bee seen at: http://data.gov.uk/dataset/dit-gpc-spend Information on transactions over £500 for 2010-11 will be published by the end of March 2012.
	The previous Government did not approach transparency in this open way, so the cost of the work required to obtain, contextualise and report data for central government departments from the previous three years, or regarding those transactions under £500, would exceed the cost limits of a Freedom of Information request or a Parliamentary Question.

Government: Ministerial Duties

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Minister for Europe is responsible at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for central Asia; whether he uses the title of Minister for Central Asia when addressing matters regarding central Asia; and, if not, whether he will consider doing so.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), my right honourable friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) has a broad-ranging portfolio which includes the European Union (including Gibraltar), Europe, Central Asia, related international organisations and a number of other issues. As the noble Lord knows, the role is known as the Minister for Europe. While this title does not cover the full breadth of the portfolio, it is a sensible reflection of the range of issues covered. Mr Lidington also speaks for the FCO on all foreign policy issues, when necessary.
	While Central Asia remains an important component of the Minister's portfolio, he does not use the title "Minister for Central Asia". There are no plans to change this at this time.

House of Lords: Sitting Times

Lord Grocott: To ask the Chairman of Committees, further to his Written Answer on 6 July (WA 72-3), (1) how many sitting days of the House since 28 June 2011 breached the firm convention that the House should rise no later than 10 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 7 pm on Thursdays and 3 pm on Fridays, and in each case by how much the time was exceeded; (2) what is the cumulative total of hours sat after those expected rising times since 1 January 2011; and (3) what is the cumulative total of hours sat since 1 January 2011 due to the House sitting at an earlier than usual time on an ordinary sitting day.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The Companion to the Standing Orders states that:
	"The House usually sits for public business on Mondays and Tuesdays at 2.30 pm, on Wednesdays at 3 pm and on Thursdays at 11 am. The House also sits on Fridays at 10 am when pressure of business makes it necessary. It is a firm convention that the House normally rises by about 10 pm on Mondays to Wednesdays, by about 7 pm on Thursdays, and by about 3 pm on Fridays. The time of meeting of the House can be varied to meet the convenience of the House."
	Between 28 June and 21 December 2011 the House has risen later than these usual rising times on 34 occasions. Dates and times are given in the table below.
	
		
			 Date of Sitting Day Rising time Time after the usual rising time (in hours:mins) 
			 29/06/2011 Wednesday 22:32 00:32 
			 04/07/2011 Monday 22:12 00:12 
			 05/07/2011 Tuesday 22:55 00:55 
			 07/07/2011 Thursday 19:15 00:15 
			 11/07/2011 Monday 23:02 01:02 
			 12/07/2011 Tuesday 22:19 00:19 
			 13/07/2011 Wednesday 23:21 01:21 
			 14/07/2011 Thursday 19:38 00:38 
			 15/07/2011 Friday 15:21 00:21 
			 18/07/2011 Monday 22:42 00:42 
			 19/07/2011 Tuesday 23:12 01:12 
			 06/09/2011 Tuesday 01:17 03:17 
			 12/09/2011 Monday 22:19 00:19 
			 13/09/2011 Tuesday 22:42 00:42 
			 14/09/2011 Wednesday 22:05 00:05 
			 10/10/2011 Monday 22:54 00:54 
			 11/10/2011 Tuesday 00:23 02:23 
			 17/10/2011 Monday 23:44 01:44 
			 18/10/2011 Tuesday 22:46 00:46 
			 21/10/2011 Friday 15:08 00:08 
			 26/10/2011 Wednesday 22:50 00:50 
			 31/10/2011 Monday 23:13 01:13 
			 02/11/2011 Wednesday 22:26 00:26 
			 07/11/2011 Monday 22:09 00:09 
			 09/11/2011 Wednesday 22:05 00:05 
			 14/11/2011 Monday 23:17 01:17 
			 21/11/2011 Monday 23:09 01:09 
			 22/11/2011 Tuesday 22:03 00:03 
			 25/11/2011 Friday 15:03 00:03 
			 28/11/2011 Monday 22:42 00:42 
			 30/11/2011 Wednesday 00:44 02:44 
			 07/12/2011 Wednesday 22:07 00:07 
			 13/12/2011 Tuesday 22:37 00:37 
			 14/12/2011 Wednesday 23:12 01:12 
			 20/12/2011 Tuesday 20.13 00:13 
		
	
	Between 1 January and 21 December 2011 the cumulative total time which the House sat after the usual rising times was 92 hours and 6 minutes.
	During the same period the cumulative total time which the House sat earlier than the usual sitting times was 48 hours and 15 minutes. This figure includes intermediate adjournments, for example, when the House sat at 11 am and adjourned shortly before Oral Questions at 2.30 pm. It also includes 26 hours made up of early sittings on days falling immediately before the start of a recess.
	These figures exclude the sitting on 11 August 2011, when the House was recalled, as there are no expected sitting times in such circumstances.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the demolition order regarding the Palestinian village of Al-Aqaba; and what replies they have received.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are aware of the demolition orders regarding the village of Al Aqaba. The UK has a strong record of lobbying hard on issues relating to house demolitions and settlement building. Our Ambassador to Tel Aviv expressed strong concerns to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office on 8 December over pending demolition orders in the West Bank, but we have not made representations on this specific case. We will continue to monitor the situation of the pending demolition orders.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Israel concerning the isolation of Palestinian villages and towns.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are aware of concerns about the isolation of Palestinian villages and towns. Our officials in Tel Aviv regularly hold discussions with the Israeli Government about a range of issues relating to various locations in the West Bank and Gaza.
	We continue to call on all parties to respect their responsibilities under International Law and International Humanitarian Law and for Israel to respect its obligations as the Occupying Power.

Kosovo

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Kosovo about promotion of awareness amongst the Serb and other minority populations of the provisions made for them in the Kosovan constitution.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government frequently discuss with the Government of Kosovo the importance of demonstrating and communicating their commitment to the Serb and other minority populations, including through promoting awareness of the provisions in Kosovo's constitution. Most recently the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) raised this when he met Foreign Minister Hoxhaj on 20 October. The UK also continues to support the International Civilian Organisation's efforts to implement the full range of provisions in the Ahtisaari Plan for a stable, viable and multi-ethnic Kosovo.
	We welcome President Jahjaga's speech to the Kosovo Assembly on 8 December, in which she addressed the Kosovo-Serb population, reaffirming that "according to the Constitution of Kosovo and its laws, you are citizens with equal freedoms and guaranteed rights. Kosova is the homeland of all and you as citizens of Serb nationality will realise all your national, religious, cultural and educational rights. For this you will have my support and the support of Kosovo's institutions".

Lisbon Treaty

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consulted the First Minister of Wales prior to vetoing changes to the European Union's Lisbon Treaty.

Lord Howell of Guildford: International and European Union issues are a matter reserved for the United Kingdom Government. We liaise with the devolved Administrations through the Joint Ministerial Committee. As is normal practice, a Joint Ministerial Sub-Committee on Europe was held before the December European Council. All devolved Administrations were given the opportunity to feed in their views.

Railways: Electrification

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 19 December (HL13874), if Transport Scotland's proposal to terminate all East Coast trains at Edinburgh were taken forward and electrification were extended to Swansea and Weston-super-Mare, what effect would this have on the number of bi-mode trains which would be required.

Earl Attlee: If the proposals referred to in the question were taken forward this might mean that fewer bi-mode trains were needed and more electric trains compared to what is currently envisaged.
	The exact number of trains needed would depend on, first, the diagramming impact of integrating the changes into the rest of the service pattern, and, secondly, the number of bi-mode trains needed for use during engineering works and other disruptions.

Railways: Emissions

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 13 December (WA 251), whether under paragraph 1.3 of the Annex to Directive 2011/88/EU it will be possible for an engine manufacturer to place on the market for use in the United Kingdom up to 16 locomotives capable of operating across Europe, in addition to the 10 capable of operating only in the United Kingdom.

Earl Attlee: The 10 locomotives designed specifically for use in the United Kingdom that Directive 2011/88/EU permits to be placed on the market under the terms of the flexibility scheme are additional to the 16 locomotives that each manufacturer is permitted to place on the market anywhere in the European Union. It will, in consequence, be permissible for a manufacturer to place up to 26 locomotives on the market in the United Kingdom once the provisions of the directive have been transposed into UK law, subject to the necessary conditions being met.

Railways: Procurement

The Lord Bishop of Derby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be a review of the terms of contract for the Thames rolling stock bid which was awarded to Siemens.

Earl Attlee: The Department for Transport's position on the Thameslink rolling stock procurement is as presented to the Transport Select Committee on 7 September 2011.

Railways: Waterloo International

Baroness Valentine: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect platforms at Waterloo International to be brought back into use for passengers; and what assessment they have made of any plans to transfer ownership of Waterloo International from BRB (Residuary) Limited as a means to expedite this process.

Earl Attlee: The Government wish to see the former international part of Waterloo station brought into domestic use.
	The Department for Transport (DfT) and Stagecoach Southwest Trains (SSWT) are currently in discussions to add capacity into Waterloo as part of the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) programme.
	Network Rail is developing plans to accommodate longer trains at Waterloo. The infrastructure requirements for these trains will include bringing the former international platforms back into domestic use, subject to value for money and affordability constraints.
	The DfT does not have any plans to transfer ownership of Waterloo International from BRB (Residuary) Limited as a means to expedite this process.

Roads: A303

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they expect that the next re-surfacing of the A303 bypass at Wincanton, Somerset, will be carried out using sound-deadening materials.

Earl Attlee: The A303 at Wincanton is not currently on the Highways Agency's forward programme to be resurfaced. However, when the existing carriageway is due for resurfacing, it is the Highways Agency's current policy to specify low noise surfacing as a matter of course.

Roads: Fatal Accidents

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many lorry drivers have been killed in work-related road accidents in the United Kingdom in the last five years; and what proportion of the total number of lorry drivers on United Kingdom roads are involved in serious road traffic accidents.

Earl Attlee: Table 1 shows the number of HGV (3.5 tonnes or heavier) drivers killed in reported road accidents in Great Britain for 2006-2010.
	Table 2 shows the number of goods vehicles of 7.5 tonnes or heavier involved in reported serious injury road accidents per 10,000 drivers of such vehicles in employment (estimated), in Great Britain for 2006-2010. Please note that drivers involved in these injury road accidents may or may not be injured themselves.
	
		
			 Table 1: HGV1 driver fatalities in reported road accidents: GB 2006-2010 
			  Accident Year 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 HGV drivers killed 36 42 20 12 26 
		
	
	1: Heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
	
		
			 Table 2: Estimated number of good vehicles over 7.5 tonnes involved in reported serious injury road accidents per 10,000 drivers of such vehicles: GB 2006-2010 Accident Year 
			  Accident Year 
			  2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Reported serious injury road accident involvement rate for goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes HGVs per 10,000 drivers of such vehicles 39 37 32 29 29 
		
	
	Source: ONS - Labour Force Survey, STATS19

Second World War: Pardons

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding the possibility of issuing pardons to former members of the Irish Army who were court-martialled and had their right to state employment and benefits, including pensions, removed because they fought in the Crown forces during World War II.

Lord Howell of Guildford: No representations have been made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the pardoning of former Irish soldiers who fought on the Allied side in the Second World War. This is a matter for the Irish Government and one to which the Irish Minister for Defence recently stated in the Dail that he was "giving active consideration". The Government are grateful for the contribution made by Irish service personnel during the Second World War. During the State Visit in May, Her Majesty The Queen and President McAleese laid wreaths together at the Irish War Memorial Gardens in memory of the Irish soldiers who died in the World Wars.

Somalia

Lord Luce: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the details of their plan to host an international conference on Somalia in London on 23 February 2012.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The London Conference on Somalia on 23 February will seek to deliver a new, action-oriented international approach to Somalia building on the progress being made on the ground.
	We have invited Governments and multilateral organisations that are active and influential on Somalia, as well as representatives from Somalia.
	We would like the conference to agree a series of practical measures to support Somalia under six headings:
	Confronting terrorism and piracy;Supporting peace-keeping activity;Broadening responsibility for a peaceful political settlement;Alleviating famine and displacement, and developing systems and livelihoods; -promoting stability at the sub-national level;Improving international co-ordination.
	We are now holding intensive discussions with our international and Somali partners and key stakeholders (including civil society) in order to identify and agree measures that would best address the threats emanating from Somalia, meet humanitarian needs and tackle the causes of instability in Somalia.

Somalia

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be a conference in London on Somalia hosted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and, if so, who will be invited, what will be the agenda, and what will be the objectives and target outcome.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The London Conference on Somalia on 23 February will seek to deliver a new, action-oriented international approach to Somalia building on the progress being made on the ground.
	We have invited Governments and multilateral organisations that are active and influential on Somalia, as well as representatives from Somalia.
	We would like the conference to agree a series of practical measures to support Somalia under six headings:
	Confronting terrorism and piracy;Supporting peace-keeping activity;Broadening responsibility for a peaceful political settlement;Alleviating famine and displacement, and developing systems and livelihoods;-Promoting stability at the sub-national level;Improving international co-ordination.
	We are now holding intensive discussions with our international and Somali partners and key stakeholders (including civil society) in order to identify and agree measures that would best address the threats emanating from Somalia, meet humanitarian needs and tackle the causes of instability in Somalia.

Sudan

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what diplomatic assistance they will offer to Kenya and Sudan as regards their dispute over the recent Kenyan High Court ruling on alleged crimes in Darfur.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are a long-term supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an independent body which plays a key role in ensuring that those who have committed the most serious of international crimes are held to account for their actions. The UK has not offered diplomatic assistance to Kenya and Sudan in regards to the recent ruling by the Kenyan High Court obliging the Kenyan Government to execute the ICC arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar El Bashir should he visit the country. The UK looks to all countries to assist the work of the International Criminal Court, but State Parties to the Rome Statute have a special responsibility to set an example by full compliance with their obligations.

UK: Coastline

Lord Fearn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what grants they make available for repairs and restorations to coastlines in England and Wales; and what grants were awarded in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Environment Agency administers the allocation of Flood Grant In Aid in England. Amongst other aspects of flood and coast erosion risk management, this funding is used to construct new defences in accordance with Defra's funding policies and to maintain or alter existing defences. The Environment Agency's best understanding of the total funding made available for this work on the coast, across all risk management authorities in England is:
	
		
			 Financial Year Total Funding 
			 2008/09 £85.7m 
			 2009/10 £129.3m 
			 2010/11 £116.9m 
		
	
	The Welsh Government, together with the Welsh European Funding Office, provides funding to the Environment Agency in Wales to undertake flood risk management works. Funding for Environment Agency schemes and maintenance work on the coast has been assessed as the following:
	
		
			 Financial Year Total Funding 
			 2008/9 £0.5m 
			 2009/10 £2m 
			 2010/11 £3.8m 
		
	
	Local Authorities in Wales also receive funding directly from the Welsh Government for the coastal defence work they carry out.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 541 (1983)

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 12 December (WA 220), whether they support United Nations Security Council Resolution 541 (1983).

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government support United Nations Security Council Resolution 541.